Shake discrimination and image stabilizer

Abstract

A shake discriminator comprising a first shake detection means disposed in a camera system to shoot a subject and serving to detect a shake of the camera system; a second shake detection means disposed in the camera system and serving to detect a shake of a cameraman's face with regard to the camera system; and a shake discrimination means for making a discrimination, on the basis of the detection outputs of the first and second shake detection means, as to whether the shake of the camera system is the one intended by the cameraman. Due to such discrimination, it becomes possible to prevent an erroneous correction which may otherwise be executed when the shake of the camera system is the one intended by the cameraman.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shake discriminator comprising: a first shake detection means incorporated in a camera system to shoot a subject and serving to detect a shake of said camera system;   a second shake detection means incorporated in said camera system and serving to detect a shake of a cameraman's face with regard to said camera system; and   a shake discrimination means for making a discrimination, on the basis of the detection outputs of said first and second shake detection means, as to whether the shake of said camera system is the one intended by the cameraman.   
     
     
       2. A image stabilizer comprising: a first shake detection means incorporated in a camera system to shoot a subject and serving to detect a shake of said camera system;   a second shake detection means incorporated in said camera system and serving to detect a shake of a cameraman's face with regard to said camera system;   a shake discrimination means for making a discrimination, on the basis of the detection outputs of said first and second shake detection means, as to whether the shake of said camera system is the one intended by the cameraman; and   an image stabilizing means for correcting the shake of said camera system in response to the output of said discrimination means signifying that the shake of said camera system is not the one intended by the cameraman, said shake correction means capable of holding the preceding corrected state when the output of said discrimination means signifies that the shake of said camera system is the intended one.   
     
     
       3. The image stabilizer according to claim 2, wherein said second shake detection means is disposed in a monitor means used by the cameraman for monitoring the shot image of said subject. 
     
     
       4. The image stabilizer according to claim 3, wherein said monitor means is a viewfinder, and said second shake detection means is disposed in an eyecup of said viewfinder. 
     
     
       5. The image stabilizer according to claim 4, wherein said second shake detection means consists of a plurality of pressure-sensitive elements spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals around the axis of said eyecup. 
     
     
       6. The image stabilizer according to claim 5, wherein four of said pressure-sensitive elements are disposed at angular intervals of 90 degrees. 
     
     
       7. The image stabilizer according to claim 3, wherein said monitor means is a viewfinder; and said second shake detection means comprises an irradiation means provided in said viewfinder and serving to irradiate light to the cameraman's face, and a light-received position detection means provided in said viewfinder to receive the reflected light from the cameraman's face and further to detect the light-received position. 
     
     
       8. The image stabilizer according to claim 2, wherein, upon detection of the shake of said camera system by said first shake detection means, said shake discrimination means makes a discrimination that, if the shake of the cameraman's face to said camera system has not been detected by said second shake detection means, the shake of said camera system is the one intended by the cameraman, but if the shake of the cameraman's face has been detected, said shake discrimination means makes another discrimination that the shake of said camera system is not the intended one.